Variable-Pressure Weatherstrip Assembly for Door Closure and Noise Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weatherstrips face a trade-off between preventing noise introduction and ease of door closure due to internal pressure, making it difficult to simultaneously seal effectively and facilitate easy operation of vehicle opening/closing parts like doors, trunk lids, and sunroofs.
Innovation Solution
A variable pressure weatherstrip assembly that includes a sealing portion with integrated fixing portions, an air supply device, air lines, and control valves to adjust pressure dynamically based on vehicle speed and opening/closing states, using a control unit to manage air supply and pressure within a predetermined range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the internal pressure of the sealing portion is increased to prevent noise introduction, then noise prevention is improved, but the reaction force during door closure increases making it difficult to close the door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic pressure control system that adjusts the internal pressure of the sealing portion based on vehicle operating conditions. A control unit monitors vehicle speed and automatically regulates pressure through an air supply device and control valves, transitioning the sealing portion from a static to a dynamically adaptive component. This resolves the contradiction by providing high pressure during high-speed travel for noise prevention while maintaining low pressure during door operations for ease of closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter of the sealing portion according to vehicle speed and operational state. By using sensors to detect vehicle speed and a control unit to adjust pressure levels, the system dynamically modifies the physical state of the sealing portion. This parameter change approach allows optimal noise sealing during high-speed travel while ensuring easy door closure during opening/closing operations.
2Ease of operation
If the internal pressure of the sealing portion is low, then ease of door closure is improved, but noise introduction occurs during high-speed vehicle travel
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts pressure based on real-time vehicle conditions. During door closure operations, the system maintains low pressure to facilitate easy closure, while automatically increasing pressure when high-speed travel is detected, thus preventing noise introduction. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between operational ease and noise prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control where sensors continuously monitor vehicle speed and operational state, and the control unit adjusts pressure accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that pressure is optimized for the current situation - low during door operations for ease of closure and high during high-speed travel for noise prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a through-hole is formed in the sealing portion or variable cross-section is applied, then noise prevention and ease of closure are partially improved, but quality consistency becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the physical structure of the sealing portion with through-holes or variable cross-sections, the patent uses a pneumatic pressure control system. By regulating internal pressure through air supply and control valves, the system achieves noise prevention and ease of closure without compromising manufacturing precision or quality consistency of the sealing portion structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances sealability and noise reduction at high speeds while reducing reaction forces during door closure, improving both opening and closing properties of vehicle opening/closing parts.
Implementation Method 1
an air supply device configured to supply pressurized air; an air line configured to allow the air supply device and the sealing portion to communicate with each other
Implementation Method 2
one or more control valves installed in the air line, disposed between the sealing portion and the air supply device, configured to control the air to be supplied to the sealing portion
Implementation Method 3
a sealing portion having a closed cross-section therein and configured to seal a portion between a vehicle body and an opening/closing part of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a variable pressure weatherstrip assembly according to the present disclosure includes: a weatherstrip including a sealing portion having a closed cross-section therein and configured to seal a portion between a vehicle body and an opening/closing part of a vehicle, and a fixing portion integrated with the sealing portion and fixed to a panel of the vehicle; an air supply device configured to supply pressurized air to the sealing portion; an air line configured to allow the air supply device and the sealing portion to communicate with each other; and one or more control valves installed in the air line, disposed between the sealing portion and the air supply device, and configured to control the air to be supplied to the sealing portion from the air supply device.